Published Aug 18, 2024 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 18, 2024 | 8:00 AM
By deciding to issue state permits, Kerala has effectively nullified the norm that autorickshaws should not ply beyond a 20 km radius outside the district where they were registered. (Creative Commons)
Fancy an autorickshaw ride from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram?
The State Transport Authority (STA) has granted autorickshaws the right to operate across the entire state of Kerala, overturning the existing restriction of a 20 km operational radius outside district borders.
The STA decision was made on 10 July 2024 but has only become more widely known now. This could prove a radical change in the transportation landscape of the state, but critics say it is ill-advised.
The STA decision came in response to a request from Gopalakrishnan, secretary, CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), Madai Area Committee, Kannur, seeking a state permit for autorickshaws. Previously, autorickshaws were confined to operating within a limited distance outside their home districts, a rule designed to limit their presence on highways and manage road safety concerns.
Under the new directive, autorickshaws can traverse the length and breadth of the state, provided they adhere to road safety norms.
The new directive is being intensely debated within workers’ unions. Autorickshaws are limited to a maximum speed of 50 kmph. Some fear extending their range could increase the risk of accidents, especially on highways where faster vehicles dominate.
Critics argue that autorickshaws are designed for short-distance travel, and ill-equipped to handle long-distance travel across diverse terrains and busy roads.
Even the Kerala State Auto-Taxi Light Motor Workers Federation, which falls under the umbrella of CITU, has opposed the new STA decision.
The state committee of the Federation distanced itself from the call for a statewide permit, asserting that their actual demand was a modest increase in the operational radius from 20 km to 30 km outside district borders.
“We did not petition the government seeking state permits for autorickshaws,” Nalanchira Hari, a state committee member of the Federation told South First. “CITU state leadership demanded that the distance be extended to 30 km from the existing 20 km.”
He added that this new decision could cause conflict in the transportation sector and heighten the risk of accidents on major roads with fast-moving traffic. “The state committee has submitted a petition to the Transport Commissioner demanding the withdrawal of the order,” Hari said.
The minutes of the STA meeting, however, indicate that the secretary of the CITU Madai Area Committee had indeed requested the state permit on behalf of the union. This has led to confusion, as local leaders appear to be taking stances at variance with state-level leadership of CITU.
The STA, however, has not indicated any rethinking of its decision, and clarified that autorickshaw drivers must prioritise passenger safety by strictly adhering to road safety regulations. The CITU state committee position on this matter highlights the need for greater caution in making such radical changes to transport policy.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
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